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Cadiz to Seville from the port and The Alhambra from Malaga

We've followed advice from here to do things in the ports we visit, but we've never encountered a travel time. We will be taking a cruise. We arrive in Cadiz on May 31. Can we get to Seville on our own by train? We have 12 hours in port. I understand it's about 2 hours each way. That gives us a few hours to spend in Seville. I'm just deciding on whether it's worth it to spend 142 dollars a person to do it with the cruise ship.

Similarly, we will be arriving in Malaga and I want to go the Alhambra in Granada. What's the best way to do that?

Thanks for your help in advance. (there will be 4 of us traveling together.

For Granada, it is similar except you will go by BUS instead of train (there is no direct train). A round trip bus ticket will be a little less than $30 USD per person. Again, take a taxi from the Granada bus station to the Alhambra. It's possible to spend 4 hours there. Get your Alhambra tickets from home before your cruise from the internet and avoid the horrendeous lines!!

If you have extra time, take a city bus or a taxi from the Alhambra to the Albaicin area and walk around. In fact, don't miss it.

You can also take the bus from Cadiz to Seville. It takes the same amount of time as the train and the bus station is centrally located - no need to take a taxi to the Cathedral area you can easily walk (or take the fairly new tram). $142 per person is a ridiculous rate - but for sure there will be some takers.

So sad the ship only stops for less than a day in both Cadiz and Malaga. Understandably, most everyone wants to visit Sevilla and Granada when Cadiz and Malaga and incredible places to visit on their own.

Thanks so much for your help. I knew I would get great info. I'm not the world's greatest fan of cruises, but it's a transatlantic and I am a fan of slowing down. It happens to do Spain and Portugal on the other end...places I have not been and places I do plan to go back to see at another time. Being in the area, I do want to see the Alhambra.

I'm also thinking about just staying in Cadiz and Malaga myself and visiting Seville and Granada on a future trip. This gives us options and the ability to decide on our own instead of feeling the pressure to sign up for the cruise package which may sell out.

I'm also thinking about just staying in Cadiz and Malaga myself and visiting Seville and Granada on a future trip. This gives us options and the ability to decide on our own instead of feeling the pressure to sign up for the cruise package which may sell out.>>

teach - that's the way I would go. have a walk, a drink, a meal, in Malaga go and see the Cathedral and the picasso museum, and enjoy being in Spain, rather than seeing the insdie of a car or a bus. in Malaga, also try to see the central market - wonderful fresh produce plus bits of animals you're never likely to see at home.

The weather in Seville/Granada will be in the low 70's in Nov. (as opposed to hovering around 100F in high summer). An added bonus is that flight prices will be at their lowest. It's not often that low fares to Europe coincide with perfect weather - Southern Spain is the splendid exception.